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Fantone S, Tossetta G, Cianfruglia L, Frontini A, Armeni T, Procopio AD, Pugnaloni A, Gualtieri AF, Marzioni D. Mechanisms of action of mineral fibres in a placental syncytiotrophoblast model: An in vitro toxicology study. Chem Biol Interact 2024; 390:110895. [PMID: 38301883 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2024.110895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Asbestos has been widely used due to its unique characteristics. It is known that exposure to asbestos causes serious damage to health but one species, chrysolite, is still used because it is considered less toxic and not biopersistent in some countries. The aim of our study was to investigate if cellular process underlying the proliferation, differentiation and cell death of placental tissues could be modify in presence of asbestos fibres (50 μg/ml final concentration), long chrysolite fibres (CHR-L) and short chrysolite fibres (CHR-S), using BeWo cell line, an in vitro model that mimics the syncytiotrophoblast (STB), the outer layer of placental villi. Our data demonstrated that none of the fibres analysed alter syncytiotrophoblast formation but all of them induce ROS formation and reduced cell proliferation. Moreover, we showed that only CHR-L fibre induced was able to induce irreversible DNA alterations that carried cells to apoptosis. In fact, BeWo cells exposed to CHR-L fibre showed a significant increase in cleaved CASP3 protein, a marker of apoptosis. These data suggest that CHR-L may induce death of the placental villi leading to impaired placental development. The impairment of placental development is the basis of many gestational pathologies such as preeclampsia and intrauterine growth retardation. Since these pathologies are very dangerous for foetal and maternal life, we suggest to the gynaecologists to carefully evaluate the area of maternal residence, the working environment, the food used, and the materials used daily to avoid contact with these fibres as much as possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Fantone
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Giovanni Tossetta
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Laura Cianfruglia
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60126, Ancona, Italy
| | - Andrea Frontini
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Tatiana Armeni
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60126, Ancona, Italy
| | - Antonio D Procopio
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, DISCLIMO, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy; Clinical Laboratory and Molecular Diagnostic, IRCCS INRCA, Ancona, Italy
| | - Armanda Pugnaloni
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, DISCLIMO, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Alessandro F Gualtieri
- Chemical and Earth Sciences Department, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Daniela Marzioni
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy.
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Dang Q, Zhu Y, Zhang Y, Hu Z, Wei Y, Chen Z, Jiang X, Cai X, Yu H. Nuclear Binding Protein 2/Nesfatin-1 Affects Trophoblast Cell Fusion during Placental Development via the EGFR-PLCG1-CAMK4 Pathway. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1925. [PMID: 38339201 PMCID: PMC10856506 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that nuclear binding protein 2 (NUCB2) is expressed in the human placenta and increases with an increase in the syncytialization of trophoblast cells. This study aimed to investigate the role of NUCB2 in the differentiation and fusion of trophectoderm cells. In this study, the expression levels of NUCB2 and E-cadherin in the placentas of rats at different gestation stages were investigated. The results showed that there was an opposite trend between the expression of placental NUCB2 and E-cadherin in rat placentas in different trimesters. When primary human trophoblast (PHT) and BeWo cells were treated with high concentrations of Nesfatin-1, the trophoblast cell syncytialization was significantly inhibited. The effects of NUCB2 knockdown in BeWo cells and Forskolin-induced syncytialization were investigated. These cells showed a significantly decreased cell fusion rate. The mechanism underlying NUCB2-regulated trophoblast cell syncytialization was explored using RNA-Seq and the results indicated that the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-phospholipase C gamma 1 (PLCG1)-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IV (CAMK4) pathway might be involved. The results suggested that the placental expression of NUCB2 plays an important role in the fusion of trophoblasts during differentiation via the EGFR-PLCG1-CAMK4 pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinyu Dang
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; (Q.D.); (Y.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Z.H.); (Y.W.); (Z.C.); (X.C.)
| | - Yandi Zhu
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; (Q.D.); (Y.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Z.H.); (Y.W.); (Z.C.); (X.C.)
| | - Yadi Zhang
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; (Q.D.); (Y.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Z.H.); (Y.W.); (Z.C.); (X.C.)
| | - Zhuo Hu
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; (Q.D.); (Y.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Z.H.); (Y.W.); (Z.C.); (X.C.)
| | - Yuchen Wei
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; (Q.D.); (Y.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Z.H.); (Y.W.); (Z.C.); (X.C.)
| | - Zhaoyang Chen
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; (Q.D.); (Y.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Z.H.); (Y.W.); (Z.C.); (X.C.)
| | - Xinyin Jiang
- Departments of Health and Nutrition Sciences, Brooklyn College of City University of New York, New York, NY 11210, USA;
| | - Xiaxia Cai
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; (Q.D.); (Y.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Z.H.); (Y.W.); (Z.C.); (X.C.)
| | - Huanling Yu
- Departments of Health and Nutrition Sciences, Brooklyn College of City University of New York, New York, NY 11210, USA;
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Yuan X, Liu X, Zhu F, Huang B, Lin L, Huang J, Wen L, Kilby MD, Baker PN, Fu Y, Wu W, Qi H, Tang J, Tong C. Endoplasmic reticulum stress impairs trophoblast syncytialization through upregulation of HtrA4 and causes early-onset preeclampsia. J Hypertens 2023; 41:2095-2106. [PMID: 37728094 DOI: 10.1097/hjh.0000000000003541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Syncytiotrophoblasts form via mononuclear cytotrophoblast fusion during placentation and play a critical role in maternal-fetal communication. Impaired syncytialization inevitably leads to pregnancy-associated complications, including preeclampsia. Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) is reportedly linked with preeclampsia, but little is known about its association with syncytialization. High temperature requirement factor A4 (HtrA4), a placental-specific protease, is responsible for protein quality control and placental syncytialization. This study aimed to investigate the relationship among HtrA4, ERS, and trophoblast syncytialization in the development of early-onset preeclampsia (EO-PE). METHODS HtrA4 expression and ERS in preeclamptic placentas and control placentas were analyzed by Western blotting and qRT-PCR. HtrA4 and ERS localization in placentas was determined by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. BeWo cells were used to stimulate the effects of HtrA4 and ERS on syncytialization. RESULTS HtrA4 expression was upregulated in EO-PE and positively correlated with ERS. HtrA4 activity was increased in preeclampsia. Under normoxia, HtrA4 overexpression in BeWo cells did not alter the ERS level. In addition, treatment with hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) or an ERS inducer increased HtrA4 expression. HtrA4 upregulation suppressed the levels of syncytin-2 and β-HCG in the presence of forskolin (FSK), and this change was exaggerated after ERS activation. In addition, treatment with an ERS inhibitor markedly suppressed FSK-treated cell fusion in a manner related to downregulation of HtrA4 expression. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that ERS enables syncytialization of placental development by upregulating HtrA4, but that excessive HtrA4 expression and preexisting ERS impair syncytialization and cause EO-PE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine of Chongqing Municipality, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University
- International Collaborative Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University
| | - Xiyao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine of Chongqing Municipality, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University
- International Collaborative Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University
| | - Fangyu Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine of Chongqing Municipality, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University
- International Collaborative Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University
| | - Biao Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine of Chongqing Municipality, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University
- International Collaborative Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University
| | - Li Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine of Chongqing Municipality, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University
- International Collaborative Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University
| | - Jiayu Huang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | | | - Mark D Kilby
- Fetal Medicine Centre, Birmingham Women's & Children's Foundation Trust
- Institute of Metabolism & Systems Research, College of Medical & Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham
| | - Philip N Baker
- College of Life Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Yong Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine of Chongqing Municipality, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University
- International Collaborative Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University
| | - Weiwei Wu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi
| | - Hongbo Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine of Chongqing Municipality, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University
- International Collaborative Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University
- Department of Obstetrics, Women and Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University
| | - Jing Tang
- International Collaborative Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University
- School of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Chao Tong
- State Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine of Chongqing Municipality, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University
- International Collaborative Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University
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Mughis H, Lye P, Matthews SG, Bloise E. Hypoxia modifies levels of the SARS-CoV-2 cell entry proteins, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, and furin in fetal human brain endothelial cells. Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM 2023; 5:101126. [PMID: 37562534 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajogmf.2023.101126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND It is not known whether human fetal brain endothelial cells that form the blood-brain barrier express angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, transmembrane serine protease 2, and furin, which are SARS-CoV-2 cell entry proteins. Moreover, it is unclear whether hypoxia, commonly observed during severe maternal COVID-19, can modify their level of expression. We hypothesized that human fetal brain endothelial cells isolated from early- and midpregnancy brain microvessels express angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, transmembrane serine protease 2, and furin. Furthermore, we hypothesized that hypoxia modifies their expression levels in a gestational age- and time-of-exposure-dependent manner. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate whether early- and midpregnancy human fetal brain endothelial cells express angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, transmembrane serine protease 2, and furin SARS-CoV-2-associated cell entry proteins and to determine the effects of hypoxia on angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, transmembrane serine protease 2, and furin expression levels in human fetal brain endothelial cells. STUDY DESIGN This was a prospective study where human fetal brain endothelial cells isolated from early-pregnancy (12.4±0.7 weeks of gestation) and midpregnancy (17.9±0.5 weeks of gestation) fetal brain microvessels (6 per group) were exposed to different oxygen tensions (20%, 5%, and 1% oxygen) for 6, 24, and 48 hours. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, transmembrane serine protease 2, and furin messenger RNA and protein levels and localization were assessed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western blot testing, and immunofluorescence. RESULTS Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, transmembrane serine protease 2, and furin co-localize with the endothelial cell marker von Willebrand factor in human fetal brain endothelial cells isolated from early pregnancy and midpregnancy. In early pregnancy, TMPRSS2 messenger RNA expression was decreased by 5% oxygen compared with 20% oxygen after 6 hours of exposure (P<.05). In midpregnancy, 5% oxygen down-regulated ACE2 messenger RNA compared with 20% oxygen after 24 hours (P<.05). Furin messenger RNA expression was decreased under 5% and 1% oxygen compared with 20% oxygen (P<.05) after 24 hours. In midpregnancy, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 protein levels were decreased under 5% and 1% oxygen (P<.001) after 24 hours. In contrast, furin protein levels were increased under 1% oxygen compared with 20% oxygen after 24 hours (P<.05). At 48 hours, 1% oxygen increased angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 protein levels compared with 20% oxygen (P<.01). CONCLUSION Hypoxia modifies the expression of selected SARS-CoV-2 cell entry proteins in human fetal brain endothelial cells in a gestational age- and time-of-exposure-dependent manner. As severe COVID-19 may lead to maternal hypoxia, an altered expression of these proteins in the developing human blood-brain barrier could potentially lead to altered SARS-CoV-2 brain invasion and neurologic sequelae in neonates born to pregnancies complicated by SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hafsah Mughis
- Department of Physiology, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Mses Mughis and Lye and Dr Matthews)
| | - Phetcharawan Lye
- Department of Physiology, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Mses Mughis and Lye and Dr Matthews)
| | - Stephen G Matthews
- Department of Physiology, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Mses Mughis and Lye and Dr Matthews); Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Health System, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Dr Matthews)
| | - Enrrico Bloise
- Department of Morphology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil (Dr Bloise).
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5
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Tossetta G, Fantone S, Giannubilo SR, Ciavattini A, Senzacqua M, Frontini A, Marzioni D. HTRA1 in Placental Cell Models: A Possible Role in Preeclampsia. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2023; 45:3815-3828. [PMID: 37232715 DOI: 10.3390/cimb45050246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The HtrA serine peptidase 1 (HTRA1) is a multidomain secretory protein with serine-protease activity involved in the regulation of many cellular processes in both physiological and pathological conditions. HTRA1 is normally expressed in the human placenta, and its expression is higher in the first trimester compared to the third trimester, suggesting an important role of this serine protease in the early phases of human placenta development. The aim of this study was to evaluate the functional role of HTRA1 in in vitro models of human placenta in order to define the role of this serine protease in preeclampsia (PE). BeWo and HTR8/SVneo cells expressing HTRA1 were used as syncytiotrophoblast and cytotrophoblast models, respectively. Oxidative stress was induced by treating BeWo and HTR8/SVneo cells with H2O2 to mimic PE conditions in order to evaluate its effect on HTRA1 expression. In addition, HTRA1 overexpression and silencing experiments were performed to evaluate the effects on syncytialization, cell mobility, and invasion processes. Our main data showed that oxidative stress significantly increased HTRA1 expression in both BeWo and HTR8/SVneo cells. In addition, we demonstrated that HTRA1 has a pivotal role in cell motility and invasion processes. In particular, HTRA1 overexpression increased while HTRA1 silencing decreased cell motility and invasion in HTR8/SVneo cell model. In conclusion, our results suggest an important role of HTRA1 in regulating extravillous cytotrophoblast invasion and motility during the early stage of placentation in the first trimester of gestation, suggesting a key role of this serine protease in PE onset.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Tossetta
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy
- Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Salesi Hospital, 60123 Ancona, Italy
| | - Sonia Fantone
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy
| | - Stefano Raffaele Giannubilo
- Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Salesi Hospital, 60123 Ancona, Italy
| | - Andrea Ciavattini
- Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Salesi Hospital, 60123 Ancona, Italy
| | - Martina Senzacqua
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy
| | - Andrea Frontini
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60128 Ancona, Italy
| | - Daniela Marzioni
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy
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Fantone S, Ermini L, Piani F, Di Simone N, Barbaro G, Giannubilo SR, Gesuita R, Tossetta G, Marzioni D. Downregulation of argininosuccinate synthase 1 (ASS1) is associated with hypoxia in placental development. Hum Cell 2023; 36:1190-1198. [PMID: 36995581 DOI: 10.1007/s13577-023-00901-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
Argininosuccinate synthase (ASS1) is involved in nitric oxide production, which has a key role in placental development improving pregnancy outcomes. Syncytiotrophoblast and extravillous trophoblast differentiations are milestones of placental development and their impairment can cause pathologies, such as preeclampsia (PE) and fetal growth restriction (FGR). Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting were used to localize and quantify ASS1 in first trimester (8.2 ± 1.8 weeks), third trimester (38.6 ± 1.1 weeks), and PE (36.3 ± 1.5 weeks) placentas. In addition, cell cultures were used to evaluate ASS1 expression under hypoxic conditions and the syncytialization process. Our data showed that ASS1 is localized in the villous cytotrophoblast of first trimester, third trimester, and PE placentas, while the villous cytotrophoblast adjacent to the extravillous trophoblast of cell columns as well as the extravillous trophoblast were negative for ASS1 in first trimester placentas. In addition, ASS1 was decreased in third trimester compared to the first trimester placentas (p = 0.003) and no differences were detected between third trimester and PE placentas. Moreover, ASS1 expression was decreased in hypoxic conditions and syncytialized cells compared to those not syncytialized. In conclusion, we suggest that the expression of ASS1 in villous cytotrophoblast is related to maintaining proliferative phenotype, while ASS1 absence may be involved in promoting the differentiation of villous cytotrophoblast in extravillous cytotrophoblast of cell columns in first trimester placentas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Fantone
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60126, Ancona, Italy
| | - Leonardo Ermini
- Department of Life Science, University of Siena, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Federica Piani
- Cardiovascular Internal Medicine, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40128, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40138, Bologna, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Di Simone
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, 20072, Milan, Italy
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, 20089, Milan, Italy
| | - Greta Barbaro
- Istituto di Clinica Ostetrica e Ginecologica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Raffaele Giannubilo
- Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Salesi Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria, 60126, Ancona, Italy
| | - Rosaria Gesuita
- Centre of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60126, Ancona, Italy
| | - Giovanni Tossetta
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60126, Ancona, Italy.
- Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Salesi Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria, 60126, Ancona, Italy.
| | - Daniela Marzioni
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60126, Ancona, Italy
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Renaud SJ, Jeyarajah MJ. How trophoblasts fuse: an in-depth look into placental syncytiotrophoblast formation. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:433. [PMID: 35859055 PMCID: PMC11072895 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04475-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
In humans, cell fusion is restricted to only a few cell types under normal conditions. In the placenta, cell fusion is a critical process for generating syncytiotrophoblast: the giant multinucleated trophoblast lineage containing billions of nuclei within an interconnected cytoplasm that forms the primary interface separating maternal blood from fetal tissue. The unique morphology of syncytiotrophoblast ensures that nutrients and gases can be efficiently transferred between maternal and fetal tissue while simultaneously restricting entry of potentially damaging substances and maternal immune cells through intercellular junctions. To maintain integrity of the syncytiotrophoblast layer, underlying cytotrophoblast progenitor cells terminate their capability for self-renewal, upregulate expression of genes needed for differentiation, and then fuse into the overlying syncytium. These processes are disrupted in a variety of obstetric complications, underscoring the importance of proper syncytiotrophoblast formation for pregnancy health. Herein, an overview of key mechanisms underlying human trophoblast fusion and syncytiotrophoblast development is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen J Renaud
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology and Children's Health Research Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A5C1, Canada.
| | - Mariyan J Jeyarajah
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology and Children's Health Research Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A5C1, Canada
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